“It is a plan designed by the DUP for the benefit of Northern Ireland.

“I hope it can win the support of not just our core voters but of many people across the province who recognise the opportunity that exists to achieve key objectives.

“It is not our manifesto, that will come later, the plan will serve as an agenda and guide for us in negotiations with any potential government after the election and a road map for us for the next five years.

“It sets out decisions that a UK government can take to help move Northern Ireland forward and importantly it also sets out the steps we will take locally.

“This document sets out our five key goals.

“The plan demonstrates a reasonable and rational approach and one that shows a vision for Northern Ireland.

“If we can deliver, it will not only be of advantage to Northern Ireland but to the UK as a whole.

“We have not sought to unpick the political agreements that have been reached in Northern Ireland nor are we making demands that are undeliverable.

“We have a positive plan for Northern Ireland. We want to make Northern Ireland an economic powerhouse; deliver world class public services for our people; create a society based on fairness and opportunity for everyone; make politics and Government work better in Northern Ireland and strengthen the United Kingdom and protect and enhance our British identity.

“Under each of these values we have set out in much greater detail many of the policies and proposals through which these aspirations can be delivered.

“We don’t expect any government to deliver every dot and comma of our plan but we do need to see delivery of a range of the goals at the heart of our proposals in order to elicit our support.

“We need to see measures that can help transform Northern Ireland.

“This plan will be at the heart of our election campaign.

“It will also be the test against which we will judge the terms of any understanding from a potential party of government.

“We are not prepared to play media games of prioritising, weighing or negotiating the terms of any agreement in the glare of publicity or creating artificial red lines.

“If the circumstances arise we will seriously discuss the nature of any potential government’s own programme and assess how compatible it is with our own.

“We are publishing this document at the start of the election to give the national parties the time and the opportunity to understand our proposals.

“Just as important we are publishing this plan to let people here see that they can join us in this once in a lifetime opportunity to deliver for Northern Ireland.

“Only the DUP is in a position to bring the bacon home. Only by voting DUP can people place us in the position to best deliver."